Societies: Passion for fashion at UAL

by Persia Shahkarami

The Fashion Society provides students with a valuable platform to showcase their talents. From African headgear to Barbie inspired designs, Persia Shahkarami experiences the mania first hand

The Fashion Society provides a collective for wannabee designers, those with a passion for clothes and fashion victims alike.

Established in 2008, you would have thought the society would be popular among the creative students of UAL, especially those on fashion related courses.

However, the turnout was less than impressive at Wednesday afternoon’s rehearsal – perhaps the nice weather had deterred students or maybe students just do not care about fashion afterall (pah!).

Fashioning the decade

The Society’s efforts, however are very aspirational; ‘Fashioning the Decade’, their biggest event to date, has given UAL fashion designersthe chance to showcase their work in a show held at The Rag Factory, a nonprofit organisation supporting the creative fabric of London: “Young designers hold the key to the future and this was a unique opportunity to set the agenda for the next decade ,” says secretary of the Fashion Society, Pandora Howard-Griffin.

Proceeds from the event will go to the Make-AWish Foundation, which grants wishes for young people and children with life-threatening illnesses whilst also providing aid to aspiring designers to showcase their work for free, after their blood, sweat and tears have been poured into making their collections.

Many of the students taking part in this charity event are studying foundation degrees, meaning that unlike those studying on a BA (Hons) course – who have the oppportunity to showcase their work for free through the university itself – they can do so through the charity.

A metallic shift dress with futuristic pleats caught my eye; unique, exaggerated but wearable – perhaps something Lady Gaga would wear while having afternoon tea.

Designer Debrina Francis who was taking part in the show gushed she was ‘hugely influenced’ by Barbie as it was her 50th birthday last year.

This certainly comes across in her collection, which a included a bright fuschia dress with padded neck detailing.

In the less glamorous staircases of London College of Fashion’s, John Princes Street building, student, Ndudi Uwaechie, made a striking pose as she modelled her own design; a one shoulder maxi dress.

Heavily influenced by the African silhouette and prints, such pieces will make her final project in the fashion show which is a great way to showcase her talents.

Patricia Sawyer, a Camberwell student, who has also designed costumes for the Notting Hill carnival, had an obvious carnival theme throughout her collection with lots of sequins, beading and bright patterns; as well as a bat–winged piece and a feathered headpiece.

"The garments are for my final project which has the theme of ‘gems’; it's a long design process and I wanted it to be bold and in your face."

New future for fashion

The majority of the garments produced for the show were a UK size 10–12, which is uncommon in fashion circles these days making for a refreshing change.

These UAL students, like many before them, could become top designers like Stella McCartney and the late Alexander McQueen, both UAL alumni.

Their choice to use average size people instead of skinny models could have a positive effect on body image for future generations.

Not to be outdone by the girls, male designers were keen to showcase their work.

LCF Fashion Design and Development student Sam Alexander, added: "I wanted something more versatile, darkness compared to nudes, interactive pieces with zips that you could play around with."

The Fashion Society’s personal highlights range from attending CSM’s London Fashion Week shows which included up-and-coming designer, Roksanda Ilincic at the V&A and the ‘blooming’ success of the underwear fashion show with proceeds donated to the Terrance Higgins Trust.

So, if you consider yourself to be a fashion conscious student, why not join the Fashion Society?

And remember – it is not just for those that want to be designers – there are many other aspects to this rich industry.

For more information contact: thefashionsociety@hotmail.com or go to: www.suarts.org/fashion/